Italian for Beginners

When an Italian language class is scheduled to begin in a Danish hamlet, several attendants gather; friendships blossom along with the occasional romance. Another Dogma film where one has to wonder what point there is to the style; it adds nothing to the film. Nevertheless, you will soon start caring about this bunch of thirtysomethings. They have plenty of everyday problems (demanding parents, the death of a wife, etc.), but the class is their chance to open up and learn a few things about themselves and others. Predictable, but utterly charming; the cast is wonderful and the film gains a lot from everybody’s positive attitude.

Last word: “In ‘Italian for Beginners’ you have five people dying in the first 20 minutes and no one seems to remember that. That film is about sorrow, but everyone remembers it as a romantic comedy.” (Scherfig, Time Out)

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A blog on movies & TV, Hollywood and beyond.

I studied film at Halmstad University and practical filmmaking at the New York Film Academy. Now I’m a critic for the Swedish daily Aftonbladet. Opinions expressed on this personal website are solely mine and not related to Aftonbladet.